There often comes a time in modern presidential campaigns when the last bit of drama has been drained out of a party nomination fight and the crowning of the eventual standard-bearer seems like a foregone conclusion. Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump are the front-runners for their respective parties' presidential nominations. For both Republicans and Democrats, the earliest it could happen is March.
People close to Gov. Andy Beshear formed an advocacy group Wednesday to promote the Democrat's agenda in Kentucky, as his allies try to build on his reelection victory and bolster his resume by turning more of his proposals into enacted policies in the Republican-leaning Bluegrass State. The action signals a more aggressive strategy to advance Beshear's second-term agenda as the 46-year-old governor takes other steps to expand his political brand beyond his home state. Beshear's national profile rose after his convincing reelection win over GOP challenger Daniel Cameron last November.
President Joe Biden was meeting with House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson and other congressional leaders on Wednesday afternoon to discuss immigration policy at the U.S. border and funding for Ukraine. Republicans in Congress have blocked emergency funding that Biden has requested for Ukraine and threaten to force a partial shutdown of the government in an effort to tighten security along the U.S.-Mexico border; they blame Biden's policies for leading to an influx of immigrants into the United States.